Sleep

One of those funny things - you just have to do it

Characteristics of Sleep

Person will lie down to go to sleep Eyes are closed

Doesn't hear anything unless it is a loud noise

Breathes in a slow, rhythmic pattern Muscles are completely relaxed Occasionally rolls over or rearranges his or her body (happens once or twice an hour)

Sleep and the Brain

An awake and relaxed person generates alpha waves (10 cycles) An alert person generates beta waves, which are about twice as fast

During sleep, two slower patterns called theta waves and delta waves take over
Theta - 3.5 to 7 cycles per second Delta - less than 3.5 cycles per second

Slower the brainwave patterns, the deeper the sleep

A person deep in delta wave sleep is hardest to wake up

REM Sleep

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is a normal stage of sleep

Humans usually experience about four or five periods of REM sleep Brainwaves during this period speed up to awake levels

Eyes will flicker back and forth rapidly

Dreams occur - If you wake up a person, he/she can vividly recall dreams Periods of sleep other than REM sleep are known as NREM (non-REM) sleep

Both REM and NREM sleep are needed to get a good night's sleep

Sleep Cycle

Missing Sleep

If a person misses two nights of sleep, it gets worse. Concentration is difficult Attention span falls by the wayside Mistakes increase Clear thinking is impossible Rats forced to stay awake continuously will eventually die, proving that sleep is essential

Why do we need Sleep ?

Growth hormone in children is secreted Chemicals important to the immune system are secreted More prone to disease if you don't get enough sleep Chance to repair muscles and other tissues, replace aging or dead cells, etc. Chance to organize and archive memories (through Dreams) Lowers our energy consumption A way of recharging the brain Everything looks and feels better in the morning Both the brain and the body are refreshed and ready for a new day

DreamZZzzzz shh!

Brain creates dreams through random electrical activity Brain stem sends electrical impulses throughout the brain, in no particular order or fashion The forebrain - desperately tries to make sense of these signals A random splash of ink on paper Doesn't mean that dreams are meaningless Forebrains choose to "analyze" the random and discontinuous images may tell us something about ourselves

Facts of Dreams !!!

Tell a story Egocentric Things that have happened to you recently

Incorporate deep wishes and fears

Cannot control a dream - impossible to run or yell

Tips to improve

Exercise regularly
Don't consume caffeine after 4:00 p.m Avoid cigarettes, alcohol before bedtime. Stick to a regular bedtime A comfortable mattress and good pillows Keep your bedroom cool, dark and quiet Use eye covers, blackout curtains Avoid a Snoring bedmate Do not keep laptops and TVs in bedroom Sleep like a Baby Average sleep hours 6 to 8 hours